Uzbekistan refused to participate in CSTO Foreign Ministers Summit in YerevanApril 15, 2009 - 21:59 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Uzbekistan representatives will not participate in CSTO Foreign Ministers' Summit due on Apr. 16-17 in Yerevan, CSTO Press Service told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter."Uzbekistan Foreign Ministry officially announced seeing no reason participate in CSTO Foreign Ministers' Summit activities, and suggested to hold the event before Collective Security Council's Summit scheduled in June. However, according to CSTO regulations stipulating for meetings to be conducted at least twice a year, CSTO Council expressed a wish hold the meeting in Armenia," RA Press Service reported. The summit agenda will include discussion of foreign policy cooperation between member states in the spheres of international security, including the Organization's further activities in Afghanistan. Cooperation issues with international and regional organizations, specifically, UN and OSCE will also be discussed. The Foreign Ministers will focus on CSTO Defense Ministers and Secretary Committee's proposals on activating the military component and counteracting the security challenges, as well as the results of the activities towards establishing Collective Rapid Reaction Forces. CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha announced in Yerevan on Apr. 15 that Iran might replace Uzbekistan in CSTO. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |